Rising Measles Cases Prompt Alberta Medical Association to Call for Stronger Public Health Measures

Alberta Medical Association Calls for Transparent Health Communication Amid Rising Concerns

In the face of growing health challenges including a measles resurgence and debates over privatizing medical services, the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is emphasizing the critical importance of clear communication between patients, healthcare providers, and government officials.

Dr. Brian Wirzba, president of the AMA, stresses that patient autonomy must be paired with accurate information. “We feel very strongly that patient autonomy is important and that patients should be able to make decisions, but we want those decisions to be informed,” Wirzba said. He points to scenarios like cancer diagnoses where patients face overwhelming options and need reliable guidance from medical professionals.

The current measles outbreak in Alberta has heightened concerns about vaccination rates and public health messaging. According to Wirzba, Alberta is at risk of losing its measles elimination status, which requires a full year without local transmission of the disease.

“We are still seeing spread even this week,” Wirzba noted. “We’re going to be losing that status, and that relates to our overall vaccination rates. We were seeing vaccination rates that are not at the 95 percent that we need for measles elimination.”

Public health experts have linked the resurgence of measles to declining vaccination rates fueled by misinformation and growing vaccine hesitancy. Wirzba describes this trend as “a sad reflection of our times” and emphasizes that measles can lead to serious complications including pneumonia, neurological conditions, and even death in otherwise healthy children.

The AMA has raised concerns with provincial authorities regarding the implementation of vaccination and immunization programs this year, particularly as respiratory cases typically spike during certain seasons.

Beyond infectious diseases, Wirzba also expressed concerns about the Alberta government’s plans to allow private payment for diagnostic services. He worries about how patients will interpret test results without proper medical guidance, particularly when it comes to “incidentalomas” – incidental findings unrelated to the original reason for testing.

“What we’re worried about is with direct access… patients would be able to have access to almost any kind of tests,” Wirzba explained. “And we know that depending on the patient population, 20 to 80 percent of those scans are going to have an abnormality.”

While most of these findings are benign, they can cause unnecessary anxiety and lead to excessive spending on follow-up tests. Without proper medical interpretation, patients might assume the worst after paying substantial sums for private scans.

“That is why it is important not to over-test, because we know that the outcomes aren’t better, so patients don’t benefit,” Wirzba said. He warns that uninformed patients might needlessly spend more money, costing the system resources and delaying access for others.

The AMA president advocates for “appropriate guardrails” on private diagnostic services and stresses the need for continued dialogue with government officials about implementation details. Questions remain about whether patients who start in the private system would eventually transition to public healthcare, potentially increasing overall system costs.

Throughout his comments, Wirzba emphasized the AMA’s commitment to constructive engagement rather than antagonism. “What we’re trying to do is just open the opportunity for conversation,” he said. “We’re not trying to be antagonistic in any shape or form.”

The AMA continues to advocate for evidence-based screening tests and guidelines that are proven to reduce negative health outcomes, while working toward better communication across Alberta’s healthcare landscape.